Queen City Reunion

It's already fall in Ohio. It's been in the mid to upper 60's almost all week. Kind of chilly at times, but overall it just feels great. I've been doing a lot of cleaning and settling into my house down here. We got a new central air system so our place was quite a mess for awhile. It looks and feels great now, though. This place is starting to lose it's "slum house" title.

I am SO HAPPY to be back home. I absolutely love Cincinnati and UC. It feels so good to be back around people my own age. I loved the people I met in Texas, really, but most everyone I became friends with was older than me....and it's just different. They are all in different places in there life than I am....places I'm not quite at yet. I have so many incredible friends here, and there are so many incredible things that are about to happen this year on campus with Navs. It feels good to live back near campus again. In Texas, I was in an apartment and not really living near any friends. Here, I can just walk to a number of friends' houses if I get bored or want to hang out. I dunno...I guess these are just some things that I took for granted that I'm not going to anymore.

It's been great getting to see my family again. And, if you haven't heard, I am an UNCLE! My new nephew, Elijah Blaise Grissom, was born last Sunday night. I was the first one (besides his parents) to hold him in my family....he was only 15 hours old!!!! He's pretty awesome!!

I think the best part of being home, for me, is getting back involved in Navs. Being actively involved in something way bigger than myself or my own life. I feel such a sense of purpose and excitement thinking about all the students we will influence this year and hopefully lead toward Christ. These last four years at UC have been incredible for me...without a doubt the best years of my life and I honestly believe that I've had as good a time at UC as anyone has ever had. And so far, I can't really look back and see any big regrets. Sure, I've made mistakes, but I wouldn't change the way anything has happened here. Now I've got one more year left. One of our Navs leaders, Evan Griffin, asked me what my legacy was going to be this year. He likes to challenge people like that. Well I know without a doubt that God called me to UC. I wanted to go to OSU, but I thought God wanted me here. So I swallowed my pride, bit my tongue, and decided on UC. I can't imagine what it'd be like if I had gone to Ohio State...I guess it's not really worth thinking about now, just happy I am where I am. But I've got one more year left here. And I don't intend on leaving this place without leaving my mark, without having an impact. I plan on leaving a legacy.